But they alas too feeble were,
Her Grief was swoln too high
To be Exprest in Sighs and Tears;
She must or speak or dye.
And thus at last she did complain,
Is this the Faith, said she,
Which thou allowest me, _Cruel Swain_,
For that I gave to thee?
III.
Heaven knows with how much Innocence
I did my Soul Incline
To thy Soft Charmes of Eloquence,
And gave thee what was mine.
I had not one Reserve in Store,
But at thy Feet I lay’d
Those Arms that Conquer’d heretofore,
Tho’ now thy Trophies made.
IV.
Thy Eyes in Silence told their Tale
Of Love in such a way,
That ‘twas as easie to Prevail,
As after to Betray.
And when you spoke my Listning Soul,
Was on the Flattery Hung:
And I was lost without Controul,
Such Musick grac’d thy Tongue.
V.
Alas how long in vain you strove
My coldness to divert!
How long besieg’d it round with Love,
Before you won the Heart.
What Arts you us’d, what Presents made,
What Songs, what Letters writ:
And left no Charm that cou’d invade,
Or with your Eyes or Wit.
VI.
Till by such Obligations Prest,
By such dear Perjuries won:
I heedlesly Resign’d the rest,
And quickly was undone.
For as my Kindling Flames increase,
Yours glimeringly decay:
The Rifled Joys no more can Please,
That once oblig’d your Stay.
VII.
Witness ye Springs, ye Meads and Groves,
Who oft were conscious made
To all our Hours and Vows of Love;
Witness how I’m Betray’d.
Trees drop your Leaves, be Gay no more,
Ye Rivers waste and drye:
Whilst on your Melancholy Shore,
I lay me down and dye.
SONG.
_To Pesibles Tune._
I.
‘Twas when the Fields were gay,
The Groves and every Tree:
Just when the God of Day,
Grown weary of his Sway,
Descended to the Sea,
And Gloomy Light around did all the World survey.
‘Twas then the Hapless Swain,
_Amyntas_, to Complain
Of _Silvia’s_ cold Disdain,
Retir’d to Silent Shades;
Where by a Rivers Side,
His Tears did swell the Tide,
As he upon the Brink was lay’d.
II.
Ye Gods, he often cry’d,
Why did your Powers design
In _Silvia_ so much Pride,
Such Falshood too beside,
With Beauty so Divine?
Why should so much of Hell with so much Heaven joyn?
Be witness every Shade,
How oft the lovely Maid
Her tender Vows has paid;
Yet with the self-same Breath,
With which so oft before,
And solemnly she swore,
Pronounces now _Amyntas_ Death.
III.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account